October 24, 2024 | Criminal Law
Meeting with an attorney can be an intimidating process. Perhaps you have been charged with a crime, or maybe you have been injured in an accident. Being prepared for your consultation and knowing what to expect can help ease some of your anxiety.
Most initial legal consultations are quite similar, regardless of the nature of the legal services to be provided. Once you know the purpose and structure of a consultation, you can be better prepared and ready to get the most out of your meeting. Here is everything you need to know about an initial legal consultation.
Come To the Consultation Prepared
First, you need to understand the purpose of an initial legal consultation so that you can come to the session fully prepared. The consultation is a time for you to get to know the attorney, but it also allows the attorney to get details about your case. To get the most out of the consultation, you need to come prepared.
Be ready to answer the questions that the attorney will ask you during this time. They will likely want to know as many details as possible about your legal situation. For instance, a DUI defense attorney assessing whether to take your DUI case might ask you questions about the date and time of your arrest, the details surrounding the traffic stop, and information about any field sobriety tests that were performed.
Bring any documents or paperwork that you think might be helpful to your defense. In the criminal defense attorney example above, helpful documents might include an arrest report, copies of breath or blood alcohol tests, or statements from witnesses who saw the incident occur.
Come With Questions
You should have some questions prepared in advance that you want to ask the attorney. You will likely want to ask about the attorney’s experience with similar cases, their fee structure, and their recommended next steps. Coming to your consultation prepared allows you to stay on track during the meeting and get some real value from the conversation.
Discussion of Fees and Expenses
If you are thinking about hiring an attorney, you are likely already wondering how much it will cost. Fees and expenses should always be discussed at the initial consultation. There are a few different ways that attorneys may charge for their services.
The three main fee arrangements that attorneys use are flat fees, contingency fees, and hourly billing. A flat fee agreement allows the attorney to accept a fixed price for a specified service. For instance, flat fee arrangements are fairly common in uncontested divorces or the drafting of a will.
A contingency fee means that the client pays nothing upfront, but the attorney’s fee is taken as a percentage of any settlement or judgment awarded to their client. This type of fee is common in personal injury cases. However, Kentucky does not allow contingency fee agreements in criminal cases. Similarly, divorce attorneys are not allowed to charge a contingent fee in most domestic relations cases.
Finally, hourly billing means that the attorney will bill a specified hourly rate for all time spent working on the case. Most attorneys who use hourly billing require the payment of an upfront retainer. Additionally, you will usually be responsible for all expenses associated with your case. These may include court costs, filing fees, and administrative expenses.
Identify Next Steps
It’s important to identify the next steps in the process. The attorney will typically advise you on how they would proceed with your case. This could include gathering additional evidence, attempting to negotiate plea agreements, or preparing for a trial.
The attorney may try to get you to hire them on the spot. However, you can always take some time to think before making a decision. Once you make a decision and sign the representation agreement, the lawyer can begin working on your case.
Schedule Your Initial Legal Consultation Today
If you need to hire an attorney, schedule an initial legal consultation today. Many attorneys even offer free consultations. A free consultation can be a great way to have an attorney listen to your story and offer advice on how to proceed.
Contact the Louisville Criminal Defense Attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers For Help Today
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers give us a call today at (502) 371-7000 or visit us at our Louisville Law Office.
Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers – Louisville
214 Clay Street, Suite A
Louisville, KY 40202
United States